Friday, March 29, 2013

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Peep Nests!

I get so many recipes by email - blogs, news feeds, news feeds linked to other bloggers, Pinterest, etc.. This recipe was one of those news feeds which linked to this lovely blog. I thought the idea was adorable. Peeps nestled in chocolate nests and surrounded by candy eggs.

The recipe called for the usual chow mein noodles mixed with chocolate chips and butterscotch or peanut butter chips. Mmmm, peanut butter chips - that caught my attention. I thought sweet and salty would be a great combination and, since I've done the chow mein noodle nests before, pretzels might be a good nesting choice! Or wait, remember shoestring potatoes in a big can? I had to give both a try.

The marshmallow peeps in the first photo were made with shoestring potatoes and the marzipan bird nests were made with thin pretzels? I found both the marzipan birds and super thin pretzels at World Market. The cashier who waited on me said the super thin pretzels always sell out as soon as they get them in. They are good :)

Which would taste best? For me, the pretzels won by a very narrow margin. So, if you can't find super thin pretzels, try shoestring potatoes if you also like the idea of sweet and salty together.

To keep chocolate from melting on little fingers, I'll be packing these in cellophane wrapping for Easter gifting to my favorite peeps :)

Melt chocolate and peanut butter chips together in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until completed melted.

Stir in crushed thin pretzel sticks or shoestring potatoes.

Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray. (I used non-stick muffin tins and also sprayed them with Baker's Joy)

Drop by spoonfuls into a greased muffin tin and mold into nest shapes with a spoon.

Place Peeps or marzipan figures and candy eggs in nests while still warm.

Refrigerate for at least one hour or more until completely set. Run a very thin knife around the edge of the nests to lift and remove from the tin. If a piece breaks, you can always melt a little more chocolate to glue it back on.

Oh this is darling and so clever. I love shoestring potatoes. We use to eat those all the time as a kid. Hmm I think I might love those covered in chocolate. I may have to make those as a snack - sweet and salty!

They're perfect for Easter and very creative! Who would've thought---potato sticks! World Market is the best, love the chicks, and I will be looking for the pretzels. Happy Easter, to you and yours, Susan!

They are adorable! I remember making them with my class using the chow mein noodles. But with all the licking of fingers going on, I dared not taste theirs! :)

I just finished filling the 120 eggs for the hunt the dozens of egg cupcakes for the kids. Mike wants to know why I have to cook and bake and bring so much...only 2 of us.I have to remind him that our 5 gkids are the majority there!Hope you have a blessed Easter and enjoy your bunnies!I made a different Bunny cake this year, I will think of you, B :), when I am icing it. I bet it will take forever!

I love the marzipan chicks you found to put in some of the these adorable chocolate nests, Susan. What wonderful sweet treats these are! I could use the shoestring potatoes to make these for my gluten sensitive grand...next year! :)

Those marzipan chicks are adorable! I've never seen them. I have seen the nests... no doubt the same place you did...Pinterest. I didn't have any grandkids this year, so didn't fuss, but will keep this post in mind for another year. Although I don't think you can beat your gingerbread bunnies! :)

Your little peeps in their nests are so sweet, Susan. Every year I vow that I'm going to make something special like this for Easter and once again I didn't get it done. But there is always next year! I hope you and your family had a very happy and blessed Easter.

I'm so glad that you found my blog today. I follow you on Google friend connect. These little peeps are so cute in the chocolate nests. I'd devour the nests that's for sure! I can never say no to chocolate! Well done!!!

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